Portable sectional floor



L. L. REED PORTABLE SECTIONAL FLOOR 3' Shets-Sheet 1 v May19, 1970 Filed April 22, 1968 FIG.I

lOd

lOb

INVENTOR. LOLA L. REED ATTORNEYS May 19, 1970 L. L. REED 3,512,324

PORTABLE SECTIONAL FLOOR Filed April 22, 1968 3 ShtS-ShEGt 5| e4 65 e s 52 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. LOLA L. REED ATTORN YS United States Patent 3,512,324 PORTABLE SECTIO'NAL FLOOR Lola L. Reed, 1120 W. Oliver St., Apt. 123, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94086 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 522,682,

Jan. 25, 1966. This application Apr. 22, 1968, Ser.

Int. Cl. E04b 1/48, 5/02; E04f 15/024 US. Cl. 52-506 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF TI-E DISCLOSURE A portable floor adapter for use over a permanent floor or over a floor covered with a rug or carpet. This floor is made of several sections adapted to abut in a predetermined pattern and the sections are provided with magnets and magnetic armatures or means for holding the sections assembled. A limited number of holding means patterns are provided to the secions, and sectional floors of difierent sizes may be assembled with sections provided with these holding means patterns.

Description of the invention This invention relates to a portable floor which is adapted for use over a permanent floor.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 522,862 filed Jan. 25, 1966 and now abandoned.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved portable floor made in sections which are provided with gripping means that hold the floor sections assembled during use and which may be disasembled by manipulating selected sections thereof in a predetermined manner to disengage the gripping means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved portable sectional fioor in which the sections are provided with improved gripping means in the form of permanent magnets and elongated steel strips which are arranged so that they hold the floor sections assembled during use but which, nevertheless, permit the floor sections to be disassembled readily for storage.

Other and further obects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a portable sectional floor, the sections of which are equipped with improved gripping means for holding them assembled during use. The different sections of the floor are all substantially square and the gripping means provided thereto is made to dovetail or interlock. The pattern of the gripping means of the different sections is such that all of the corner sections are alike. In a floor to be constructed of nine sections, additional gripping means patterns are provided, that is, one for the central section and one or more for the intermediate outer sections which are positioned between the corner sections.

In floor arrangements where more than nine sections are to be employed, the corner sections are still all alike, two patterns of gripping means may be provided for the intermediate sections and another pattern for the central sections.

Further details of this invention will be set forth in the following specification, claims and drawing, in which, briefly.

FIG. 1 is a plan view partially in section, illustrating a portable sectional floor employing nine substantially square sections;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the floor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the three upper sections of the floor shown in FIG. 1;

"Ice

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a magnetic dowel arrangement adapted to be employed in the sectional floor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6a is a detail sectional view of a modified mag netic gripping means;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a modified embodiment of sectional floor made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded fragmentary sectional view showing details of one of the gripping arrangements used in the floor shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of one of the floor sections shown in FIG. 7 provided with means to prevent lateral displacement;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a sectional floor made up of 25 sections which may be provided with gripping means such as provided to the floor section shown in FIGS. 1 and 7; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cart adapted to transport the sectional floor after it is disassembled.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numeral 10 designates a portable floor made by assembling substantially square sections 10a to 101', inclusive, as shown in FIG. 1. While this floor is shown as made of nine substantially square sections, it may be provided with a greater or lesser number of these sections. Thus, the sections 10b, 10d, 10e 10] and 10h may be eliminated, if desired, and the corner sections 10a, 100, 10g and 10i brought together to make a floor employing only these four corner sections. On the other hand, the central row of sections 10d, 10c and 10] may be eliminated and the bottom row sections 10a, 10b and may be brought up against sections 10g, 10h and 101', respectively, to make a floor employing six sections. Also, only sections 1017, 10e and 10h may be eliminated and sections 10a, 10b and 100 brought up against sections 10g, 10h and 101', respectively.

All of the corner sections 10a, 100, 10g and Ni are made the same in that the two sides thereof which are adapted to abut other floor sections are provided with elongated steel members 11, 11a, 11b and 110, respectively, and with elongated recesses 15, 15a, 15b and 150, respectively. The steel member and recess are shown in FIG. 1' in the case of the corner section 101' which is partially broken away. The outer side portions of the corner sections and intermediate sections are provided with sloping members as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Permanent magnets 12 and 13 attached to section 10a by suitable screws are positioned in recesses adjacent to the ends of the steel member 11, and these magnets are adapted to cooperate with the steel armatures 23 and 24 which are attached by suitable screws in recesses in the floor section 10d adjacent section 10a. Likewise, magnets 12a-13a, 12b-13b and 12c13c are provided to the corner sections 10c, 10g and 102', respectively, adjacent steel strips 11a, 11b and 110, respectively, and the outer faces of these magnets are flush with the edges of the floor sections and they are adapted to cooperate with the armatures Hat-24a, 23b-24b and 23c-24c, respectively, attached in recesses in the adjacent sections 10b, 10h and 10], respectively.

The floor section 10b which is intermediate the corner sections 10a and 100 is provided with steel strips 16 and 17 which are partly embedded in recesses in two sides of this section and project from these sides into recesses 15 and 22 formed in the sides of floor sections 10a and 10e, respectively. Permanent magnets 18 and 19' are attached by screws or the like in recesses adjacent to the ends of 3 steel strip 16 and permanent magnets 20 and 21 are likewise attached in recesses adjacent" the ends of the steel strip 17 so that the outer faces of these permanent magnets are substantially flush with the sides of the floor section.

Magnets 18 and 19 cooperate with steel armatures 28 and 29, respectively, which are attached to sides of the section 1011 adjacent the ends of the long recess 15. Likewise, steel armatures 20a and 21a, which cooperate with magnets 20 and 21, respectively, are positioned in recesses formed in the side of the central section c adjacent the end of the recess 22 into which the steel strip 17 is adapted to project.

Corner sections 100, 10g and 10i are made the same as corner section 10a and they are provided with armatures 28a-29a, 28b29b and 28c-29c adjacent recesses a, 15b and 150, respectively. Intermediate sections 10b and 10 are the same in that two adjoining sides of each of these sections are provided with steel strips, for example, the steel strips 16 and 17 in section 10b, and strips 16a and 17a in section 10 The other sides of sections 10b and 10;, which are adapted to abut sections 10c and 101', respectively, are provided with recesses 25 and 25a. for receiving the steel strips 11a and 110, respectively. Permanent rnagnets 13a and 19a are attached in recesses in section 10 adjacent steel strip 16a and magnets 20b and 21b are attached in recesses adjacent the steel strip 17a, and these magnets cooperate with armatures 28a, 29a, 20c and 21b, respectively, substantially as in the case of fioor section 10b.

Floor sections 10d and 1011 are the same. Section 10d is provided with a steel strip 30 attached in a recess in the upper side thereof and permanent magnets 31 and 32 are attached in recesses in this side adjacent to the ends of the steel strip. Section 10h is provided with a steel strip 30a attached in a recess on the right side thereof and permanent magnets 31a and 32a are attached in recesses adjacent ends of this steel strip. Magnets 31 and 32 of section 10d cooperate with the armatures 28b and 29b, respectively, provided to the lower side of corner section 10g and magnets 31:: and 32a of section 1011 cooperate with armature 28c and 290, respectively, of section 101'.

Steel strip 30 of section 10d is adapted to be received in the elongated recess 15b provided to the lower side of corner section 105 between the armatures 28b and 29b. Steel strip 30a of section 10b is adapted to fit into the recess 150 of section 10i between magnetic armatures 28c and 290 of section 102'.

Section 10s is the central section of the floor shown in FIG. 1 and ail four sides of this section are adapted to abut sides of other floor sections. The central fioor section 10e is provided with elongated steel strips 34 and 35 partially embedded in the left and upper sides of this section, respectively. Permanent magnets 36 and 37 are attached in recesses on the left hand side of this section and permanent magnets 38 and 39 are attached in recesses on the upper side of this section. The outer faces of these magnets and all of the magnets described herein in connection with the other floor sections are flush with the respective sides of the sections. The magnets 36 and 37 are adapted to cooperate with armatures 36a and 37a positioned in the right hand side of the section 10d, while magnets 38 and 39 are adapted to cooperate with armatures 38a. and 39a of section 1011. The other sides of section 102, namely, the lower side and the right hand side, are provided with recesses 22 and 22a, respectively, for receiving steel strips 17 and 17a, respectively, which are attached to the upper side of section 10b and the left hand side of section 10 respectively.

It will be observed that if it is desired to lengthen the portable floor a row of sections such as the sections 10b, tion 10c, namely, the lower side and the right hand side,

sections 100, 10f and 101', respectively. This additional row of sections is made exactly like the sections 10]), 10c and 10/1.

Dowels such as the dowels 14 shown in section 10a may be provided in the corner portions in all of the sections if desired to assist in aligning the floor sections during the assembly thereof. Furthermore, these dowels may be in the form of magnets so that one of the magnetic poles thereof is at the exposed end or they may be made of suitable magnetic material such as steel or the like. The dowels are adapted to be received in sockets shown in FIG. 7 made in the form of cylindrical members 14a of magnetic material or they may be cylindrical magnets having magnetic poles at opposite ends thereof. The dowels and cylindrical members may be made of ceramic or flexible magnetic materials if desired. A cylindrical magnet 14a for receiving a dowel 14 may be attached adjacent to a permanent magnet in selected corner portions of the different floor sections. Thus, in the corner where sections 10a, 10b, 10d and 10e abut, cylindrical magnets may be positioned in recesses adjacent magnets 13, 19, 20 and 36. Similar arrangements may be provided to the other corner sections where four of the floor sections abut. The dowels 14 and cylindrical members 14a are attached in recesses formed in the floor sections by suitable cements, adhesives or the like.

If desired, all of the sections 10b, 10d, 10 and 1011 may be made alike by substituting a recess for the steel strips 17 and 17a of sections 10b and 10], respectively, and placing the steel strips corresponding thereto into the central section 102. It will be noted that wil this modification the central section 10:? is provided with steel strips on all four sides. The arrangement where all of the sections 10b, 10d, 10 and 10h are the same and the central section 10e is provided with steel strips on all four sides is suitable for the type of floor shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. However, it would not be convenient where a larger floor is to be provided as described above.

Furthermore, if desired, all of the steel strips 11, 11a, 11b, 11c, 16, 16a 17, 17a 30, 30a, 34 and 35 may be made in the form of permanent magnets which may be either of the ceramic type or of the flexible type. These strips may be magnetized so that a plurality of magnetic poles of alternate north and south polarity are fixed therein on the exposed surfaces 11', shown in FIG. 6a, so that there exists magnetic gripping action between the exposed surfaces of the strip and the magnetic channel member 25. The magnetized strips are attached by suitable cements or adhesives in recesses formed in selected sides of the floor sections the same as the steel strips shown in FIG. 1 and the channel members of magnetic material are attached by suitable cements or adhesives in the abutting floor sections.

The embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a floor made up of a plurality of sections which are provided with interlocking members such as the members 40 and 41 shown in FIG. 8, which are made of magnets and magnetic material, respectively, so that the floor sections are held assembled relation by the magnetic gripping action between these angle members. The members 40 and 41 may be extruded out of a thermoplastic strip binder with finely divided particles capable of being permanently magnetized, embedded therein. Exploded view FIG. 7 shows a floor employing nine sections 42 to inclusive, provided with these angle-shaped gripping members such as the members 40 and 41. The corner sections 42, 44, 48 and 50 are all alike in that each has an upwardly facing angle member on one side and a downwardly facing member on an adjoining side, both attached thereto by suitable screws, adhesives or cements, as indicated by reference numerals 51a and 52a in the case of the corner section 42. One or" these angle members may be made of ceramic or flexible magnet material and may be magnetized sothat longitudinally displaced areas thereof are provided with north and south polarity and a series of these north and south polarities may be fixed into each of these members. The configuration of these angle-shaped members is illus= trated in FIG. 8 in which the upwardly facing angle member 40 is attached in a recess in the bottom surface of one of the floor sections 40a, and the downwardly facing angle-shaped member 41 is attached to another floor section 41a in a recess formed therein under the finish coating or surface layers 41b applied thereto. Thus, the upwardly open angle member 40 projects from the side of the section 40a, whereas, the downwardly facing angle member 44 is covered by the finish surface layers 41d of the floor section 1a and it will therefore be noted that in FIG. 7 the upwardly facing angle members are shown on the selected sides of sections 42 to 50 in solid lines and the downwardly facing angle members are shown on the selected sides in broken outline since they are under the top layers of the floor sections.

All of the corner sections 42, 44,v 48 and 50- are alike and interchangeable. Intermediate sections 47 and 49 are alike and interchangeable, and intermediate sections 43 and 45 are also alike and interchangeable, as described in connection with the description of FIG. 1. With this arrangement the floor may be expanded from nine sections to sixteen sections or twenty-five sections, as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, in the twenty-five section floor shown in FIG. corner sections 51, 52, 53 and 54 are the same and interchangeable. Central sections 55 and 63, inclusive, are the same and interchangeable. Each of these central sections may be provided with gripping means such as is provided to central section 10a shown in FIG. 1 or central section 46 shown in FIG. 7. Side sections 64 to 69, inclusive, are the same and interchangeable and the gripping means thereof may be such as provided to sections 10d and 10h of FIG. 1 or sections 43 and 45 shown in FIG. 7. Sections 70 to 75, inclusive, are the same and the gripping means thereof may be such as provided to sections 10b and 10 shown in FIG. 1 or sections 47 and 49 shown in FIG. 7. The floor shown in FIG. 7 may be reduced to a sixteen section floor by eliminating one horizontal row and one vertical row of sections including, for example, horizontal row sections 55, 56, 57, 67, 70 and vertical row sections 60', 63, 66, 75 and bringing the remaining sections into abutting positions.

Suitable means such as plates 52b shown in FIG. 9 may be attached to the floor sections adjacent the outer ends of either the downwardly facing channel members or the upwardly facing channel members on the outer floor sections of the floor shown in FIG. 7. These plates serve to limit the lateral displacement of the channel members with respect to each other. On the other hand, dowels such as the dowels 14 shown in FIG. 1, may be provided in selected corner sections of each of the floor sections. These dowels serve to hold the floor sections in proper alignment.

When this sectional floor is in use the magnets and magnetic armatures provided to the different sections grip because of the magnetic attraction therebetween and hold the floor sections assembled. The elongated steel strips which are provided to the various sections may interlock or fit into recesses provided in the sections and may themselves be in the form of magnets and magnetic material so that they provide the gripping means as well as serve to reinforce the joints between the various fioor sections. ,When it is desired to disassemble the sections of the floor, the operator should obtain a grip under one corner area of the assembled floor and, after having obtained this grip, he should raise this corner area of the floor slightly and at the same time exert a pulling action thereon. Raising of a corner area of the floor has a tendency to break the grip of the magnets so that a slight pull separates the raised section from the rest of the floor. This procedure is repeated until all of the sections are separated.

In FIG. 11 there is shown a cart constructed for hauling and storing of the disassembled floor sections. Floor sections 1011, 10c, 10e, 10g and 10: are shown in broken outline positioned on the cart between the rail members 45a and 46a. The upper ends of these rail members are provided with sleeves which are adjustable on the horizontal tubular member 47a and, likewise, the lower ends of these rail members are provided with sleeves which are adjustable on the horizontal tubular member 4811. Thus, the rail members 45a and 46a may be adjusted different distances apart to accommodate different numbers of floor sections. Floor sections are positioned between the rails 45a and 46a and the lower corners of these sections rest in the angle iron frame members 49a and 50a of the cart.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is apparent that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a portable floor which is adapted for use over a permanent floor, including one covered with a rug or carpet, the combination comprising a plurality of portable floor sections placed in abutting relation over said permanent floor to provide a portable sectional floor of predetermined size and shape, first means holding said floor sections assembled in said abutting relation said holding means comprising strip members partially embedded in and projecting from a first set of selected edges of selected floor sections which selected edges abut a second set of selected edges of selected floor sections, said second set of selected edges being provided with recesses receiving the projecting portions of said strip members which project from said first set of selected edges, selected ones of said floor sections having some of said members on some of the edges thereof and some of said recesses on other edges thereof, second holding means including magnetic means attached to said floor sections adjacent opposite ends of said strip members holding said strip members in mating relation with the corresponding recesses of abutting floor section edges, said magnetic means comprising magnets and magnetic members attached to said abutting sections on opposed parts thereof to provide magnetic gripping action therebetween.

2. In a portable floor as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said second holding means comprise dowels attached to said selected edge portions of abutting sections and inserted into holes in said opposed edge portions aligning and holding said abutting sections in alignment.

3. In a portable floor as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in that said dowels comprise magnets and said holes are lined with inserts of magnetic material attached thereto.

4. In a portable floor as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that at least one of said strip members comprises angle-shaped members attached to selected edge portions of abutting floor sections, said angle-shaped members hooking into the recesses formed on abutting floor sections, said angle-shaped members and said recesses being oriented so that they interlock.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,236,234 8/1917 Troje 46-241 2,114,388 4/1938 Killion 52-582 2,244,343 6/1941 Meyercord 52-585 2,766,488 10/1956 Danielson 52-587 2,983,071 5/1961 Oliver 46-241 3,246,422 4/ 1966 Teagarden 46-242 3,286,423 11/1966 Donlon 52-585 3,310,919 3/1967 Bue 52-127 3,314,206 4/ 1967 Dan 52-585 3,319,543 5/ 1967 Braeuninger 5'2-588 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 52-585, 588 

